He was a member of the New Jersey Senate (the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature), from the 11th district, from 1984 to 1988. In 1983, he defeated incumbent Republican State Senator Brian T. Kennedy 50%-49%.[1] In 1987, he won re-election with 60% of the vote, defeating Councilwoman Gerri C. Popkin of Neptune City.[2]

In March 1988, 23-year incumbent U.S. Congressman James Howard (D-Spring Lake Heights) of New Jersey's 3rd congressional district died. In November, Pallone defeated Republican State Representative Joe Azzolina 52%-47% and Libertarian Laura Stewart. In 1990, he won re-election with 49% of the vote, against a Republican, an independent, Libertarian Bill Stewart, and a Populist.

1992–2008

After redistricting, Pallone's district was renumbered as the 6th District. In the Democratic primary of 1992, he defeated State Representative Robert Smith 55%-37%. In the general election, he defeated Republican State Senator Joe Kyrillos 52%-45% and nine other candidates. Since then, he has won re-election with at least 60% in all but two elections (1998 and 2010). In 1998, he defeated Republican teacher Mike Ferguson 57%-40%.

Pallone was challenged by Republican nominee Anna C. Little. Little is a former Monmouth County Freeholder and served as Mayor of Highlands, New Jersey in addition to working full-time as an attorney specializing in immigration law. On November 3, 2010, Pallone defeated Little by over 16,000 votes, 55% to 43% in what analysts considered a terrible year for Democrats. However, for the first time in his career, Pallone failed to carry his home county of Monmouth.

Pallone is a Progressive Caucus Member. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Native American Caucus, where he has worked on a bipartisan basis to protect the inherent sovereignty of tribal governments and promote the needs of Indian Country. As a senior member of the House Resources Committee — the committee with jurisdiction over all matters regarding the relations of the United States with American Indians and Alaska Natives — he has been a defender of the sovereign status of Indian Tribal governments as independent from the United States.

He also serves as a co-chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues along with Congressman Ed Royce (previously Joe Knollenberg and Mark Kirk) and was instrumental in garnering the support of 127 members (30%) of the U.S. House of Representatives for the Armenian Caucus.[3] In 2002 he was awarded the Mkhitar Gosh Medal by the President of the Republic of Armenia.[4]

In 2002, he was awarded India's third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan for his contributions as member of the India Caucus in the Congress.[5]

After U.S. Rep. Chris Smith stated he does "not construe homosexual rights as human rights", Pallone issued a statement supporting homosexual rights. The statement read, in part, "Representatives in Congress must be promoting the expansion of human rights, not fighting to limit its definition to people that they deem to be appropriate."[13][14]

Pallone opposed the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act (H.R. 2019; 113th Congress), which passed in both the House and the Senate. The bill would end taxpayer contributions to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and divert the money in that fund to pay for research into pediatric cancer through the National Institutes of Health.[15][16] The total funding for research would come to $126 million over 10 years.[16][15] As of 2014, the national conventions got about 23% of their funding from the Presidential Election Campaign Fund.[17] Pallone said the bill was "a disingenuous and empty attempt by the Republicans to divert attention from the fact that they have voted to cut research time and time again."[18] Democratic opponents blamed Republicans for $1.5 billion cuts to the National Institutes of Health and said this money would not make it up.[18] Supporters of the bill argued back that the use of this money for pediatric cancer research was a better than using it for political campaigns, so the bill should be supported for that reason.[18]

In 2002, Pallone turned down an offer to replace embattled Sen. Bob Torricelli as the Democratic nominee for US Senate by Democratic Party leaders. The slot eventually went to Sen. Frank Lautenberg who ended up winning the general election. In 2004-2005, Pallone considered a gubernatorial bid against embattled and unpopular Gov. Jim McGreevey but ended up supporting eventual party nominee winner, then-Senator Jon Corzine.

Early in 2005, Pallone announced his intentions to seek the United States Senate position held at the time by Jon Corzine. Corzine won the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Jersey in June 2005, and Pallone was the first New Jersey politician to officially seek Corzine's Senate seat. Pallone launched "Pallone for New Jersey" to inform New Jersey citizens of his work in the House and his desire to be New Jersey's next Senator. In January 2006, Pallone announced his endorsement of Bob Menendez for Senate in the November 2006 election, ending his bid for the seat.

On January 3, 2013, it was revealed that Pallone is considering another bid for the Senate should Senator Frank Lautenberg elect not to pursue another term in office in 2014.[19] On June 9, 2013, Pallone said he is officially in the race to fill Lautenberg's senate seat, due to the Senator's death, and can win the Democratic primary against Newark MayorCory Booker by running on his progressive congressional record.[20] The family of the late Senator Frank Lautenberg endorsed Pallone on July 8, 2013.[21] The state council of sheet metal workers also endorsed Pallone.[22]

In the August 13, 2013 primary election, Pallone lost to Newark mayor Cory Booker. [23] Booker then won the general election.

Pallone lives with his wife Sarah Hospodor-Pallone who works as Deputy Associate Administrator of Intergovernmental Relations at the EPA in Washington, DC[24] and their three children who reside with them in Washington, DC. He married Hospodor-Pallone in August 1992.

^"Fund push to AIDS war", The Telegraph (Calcutta), January 12, 2004. Accessed May 26, 2007. "Pallone, a Democrat [sic] Congressman from New Jersey and recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 2002 for his contribution towards bringing India and the US closer, said America has promised to make $15 billion available to combat AIDS in 14 hard-hit countries ranging from Haiti to Kenya."